Dry Falls reopens after extensive rehab

The U.S. Forest Service reopened Dry Falls in the Nantahala National Forest Saturday, Sept. 22. The site has been closed since April for repairs. Significant improvements were made this year to the historic and scenic Dry Falls Trail.

The $466,000 project stabilized the trail, reconstructed and replaced the entire walking path, and removed tripping hazards. The project also protects water quality through drainage control measures. The improvements enhance the visual appeal of the trail and make it easier to maintain. Dry Falls is located northwest of the town in Highlands off of N.C. 28.

The Naturalist's Corner

My family and I made a quick run up to Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway around dusk last Sunday (July 19) to get a peek at some celestial luminaries. Venus and Jupiter joined the waxing crescent moon on the western horizon. They danced and played hide and seek amidst layered clouds whose purple backs touched the night while their bellies bathed in the last yellow and orange rays of the sun falling over the western horizon. It was a beautiful, tranquil setting.